AIKEN, S.C. – The USCA softball team completed the sweep of Flagler on Saturday, besting the Saints by scores of 6-3 and 9-7.
The Pacers are now 21-21 on the season, including 9-9 in PBC play.
Head coach
Jaclin Poole's team jumped on top of Flagler in the top of the first.
Autumn Fisher beat out a bouncing ball to the pitcher for a base hit. After moving to third on a pair of groundouts, Fisher raced home when
Mallory Shaver blooped an offering into left field for a 1-0 lead.
Payton Baker got out of a two-on, nobody out jam in the top of the third with three straight fly balls. USCA responded to the stellar defense with some offensive firepower as
Kate Newberry crushed a pitch over the left center field wall.
Up 2-1 in the fifth,
Ashlyn White fielded a single in right field and rocketed the ball to
Mollie Rollings, who promptly tagged the Saints' student-athlete who was trying to score. White's throw was there in plenty of time for the final out of the frame.
The visitors managed to plate two unearned runs in the sixth for a 3-2 advantage.
Poole's team opened the seventh with White belting a pitch down the left field line. Fisher laced a single up the middle, putting runners on first and third.
Lydia Johnson one-hopped it to third base. The fielder threw high, loading the bags. With two outs,
Kaliyah Hensic hit a grand slam down the left field line for the 6-3 win.
For the game, Fisher led the way with three hits. Hensic tallied two base hits, including the walk-off grand slam.
In the circle, Baker went the distance for the win and had four strikeouts.
Game two saw the Saints take a 2-0 lead in the first. However, Newberry rocketed a solo blast over the left field wall to make it 2-1.
In the second,
Mollie Rollings reached on an error. With two down, she swiped second. White reached on a miscue, allowing Rollings to race home to make it 2-2. Johnson reached on an error and White crossed home for a 3-2 margin.
Tied at 3-3 in the third, Newberry led off the frame with a double down the left field line. Two batters later, Hensic rocketed a deep fly ball to center field that was caught. Newberry took third on the play. An errant throw to the bag allowed Newberry to score for a 4-3 advantage.
Trailing 5-4 in the fourth,
Alexis Stout entered as a pinch hitter and doubled to left field.
Madison Rogers was hit before White was hit by a pitch to load the bags. Fisher quickly cleared the bases with a rocket down the left field line that hit the pole for a grand slam.
In the sixth, Johnson tripled to right center field. She scored on a sacrifice fly by Newberry, pushing the score to 9-6.
Flagler scored a run in the seventh, but
Ally Fleming secured the hard-fought win.
For the game, Fisher and Newberry had two hits apiece. Fisher had four RBI while Newberry drove in two and scored twice. Fisher smacked a grand slam while Newberry accounted for a solo blast.
In the circle,
Lakyn Phillips got the start and worked 3.1 innings with a strikeout. Fleming tossed the final 3.2 innings for the win.
The Pacers return to action Friday when they host Augusta at 5 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
